Sunday Coffee Cake

Most Sundays Chris makes us coffee cake. I love this recipe, it isn't too sweet, it has a nice cake texture, almost a bread. Perfect for mornings and spontanous tea parties, like this one, today...

Here's what Chris has to say about it...


It is from Fanny Farmer (p.600 in our copy: the Bantam Ed., 1983; Revised 12th Ed.).



Quick Coffee Cake ("Simple to make, good to eat")


1 cup sugar
1-3/4 cups white flour
2 tsp baking powder
4 Tbsp butter (1/2 stick) (I usually use unsalted, but either is OK)
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 cup milk
1 Tbsp sugar mixed with 1-1/2 tsp cinnamon
Preheat oven to 375F (190C)
Butter an 8-inch square cake pan

Mix sugar, flour & baking powder in a large bowl Work in butter with your hand or a pastry blender until mixture resembles coarse meal Add the egg & milk and blend Spoon into the pan Sprinkle the cinnamon/sugar mixture evenly over the top Bake for 20 minutes

note: I usually add about 1 tsp vanilla with the egg & milk
note: In our oven it usually takes 25-28 minutes
note: Sometimes I'll include about 1/2 tsp cinnamon with the dry ingredients
note: Sometimes I will put in 1/2 the batter, lightly sprinkle some cinn/sugar, then put on remaining batter & top as usual...makes a nice layered effect